Testifies to the courtesy and helpfulness of George Gray [assistant at the British Museum]. [See 402b.]

Transcription

36 Grt. Marlbro' St

Dear Sir

During the last six months, I have had occasion several times to consult the collection
of Birds in the British Museum.— With respect to the
subject of your letter, I have much pleasure in informing you, that Mr
George Gray has uniformly acted towards me with courtesy.

He not only has always opened as many cases, as I required with readiness, but has
likewise repeatedly given me much useful information, often suggesting books of
reference and other means by which I could obtain a knowledge of
the subject I had in view.—

I have the pleasure to remain | Dear Sir | Very faithfully yours | Chas. Darwin

The year is established by the relationship between this letter and the letter from
J. G. Children, 21 February 1838
(Correspondence vol. 7, Supplement).

+

f2 402f.f2

In late 1837, CD was working on a scheme for the publication of Zoology;
Zoology included a volume on birds (see Correspondence
vol. 2, Appendix II; see also Correspondence vol. 2, letter
to John Gould, [February 1838]). CD made extensive use of the ornithological
collections of the British Museum (Brandon-Jones 1996).

+

f3 402f.f3

CD refers to Children's letter of 21 February 1838
(Correspondence vol. 7, Supplement), in which he requested a character
reference for George Robert Gray. Gray was Children's assistant in the zoology
department of the museum, and had been the subject of a complaint by Edward Blyth, who
was then preparing the sections on mammals, birds, and reptiles for a new edition of
Georges Cuvier's Animal kingdom (Cuvier 1840).

+

f4 402f.f4

CD's opinion of Gray's good character was one of fifteen responses to Children's
enquiry into Blyth's accusation of Gray for gross incivility and discourtesy. The
background to this episode is described in Brandon-Jones 1996.